Southington Board of Ed Considers Archery & Other New Course Offerings

The pitched roofs of South End Elementary have developed leaks PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTO

Southington students may have the choice to learn about human geography, pottery, equine science, and EMT skills in future courses – but the addition of archery to a physical education unit brought up questions of safety at the December 11 Board of Education meeting.

The archery course was endorsed by Southington physical education teacher Anthony Loomis during the public comment section of the meeting, and teachers Amy Gagnon and Lisa Galske also spoke in support of it.

Galske, who introduced herself as a former executive director of the Connecticut Association of Health and Physical Educators, suggested that one of the benefits of adding archery to the physical education curriculum is that the activity can “engage everybody” in a class.

Gagnon added that archery is a positive form of physical activity for students who are not “good movers.” Archery “levels the playing field” for students who are not natural athletes, but can be “a lifetime activity supported in a safe environment by certified professionals,” she stated.

Loomis prefaced his remarks by highlighting the paramount importance of student safety for all physical education teachers. “That’s what we are most concerned about,” he said, adding “I only do activities that I know could enhance a student’s life and help them and make them better.”

Speaking against the archery unit was retired law enforcement officer Antonio Cusano, who said he is currently a school safety officer at Southington High School. He urged the Board “to conduct a comprehensive review of the program, its risks and its alignment with existing policies.” He pointed out that bows and arrows are, by definition, weapons capable of causing serious bodily harm and death. Furthermore, he stated that the proposed archery unit did not comply with state and national “established safety standards” for school safety.

Cusano expressed dissatisfaction with the curriculum team, who apparently did not consult him on the proposal. “The pattern of disregarding feedback, including from security professionals, has directly contributed to a climate of mistrust and apprehension,” Cusano said.

Board member Bob Brown explained that the archery unit and others are at the “first read” level, meaning the Board will not vote to approve it until it is first approved in committee.

Chairwoman Terri Carmody said that several new courses are being considered for approval at the committee level; she asked Board members to review the material and ask questions at the next meeting.

Board member Joe Baczewski questioned the shortage of opportunities for discussion, which he said had existed during his previous seven years on the Board.

Student Cell Phone Use

The use of cell phones by students has become a controversial topic around the nation. Although not on the agenda, Board member Sean Carson asked whether the Board of Education or the District planned to address the topic. Assistant Superintendent Frank Pepe replied that Digital Learning Coordinator, Rebecca Savelkoul, had been tasked with looking into it, as part of her other duties.

Pepe and Superintendent Steven Madancy hosted a series of workshops last summer where parents and educators discussed Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation,” which describes and documents the challenges that social media pose for the mental health and well-being of adolescents and teenagers.

How to implement controls on cell phone use at the policy level, Pepe suggested, remains a challenging question. Describing his time as principal at DePaolo Middle School, he said the practice was to have students keep phones in their lockers during the school day, not with them. But he said a firm written policy would require more work from the Board and District alike. Such a policy would have to first go through the Policy and Procedures sub-committee.

“If you want us to examine that, then we’re at your service,” Pepe said.

School Roof Leaks; Other Updates

As part of the Superintendent’s report, Madancy described issues with the South End Elementary School roof, which has been leaky for some time and poses maintenance issues due its pitched design. He said that a dispute between the installer and the manufacturer meant it wasn’t clear who was ultimately responsible for the flaws, but that the shingle company has since gone out of business. The roof, he added, is also too new to qualify for state-level reimbursement, and efforts at litigating were not successful. He reported that Southington Town Manager Alex Ricciardone had agreed to add the school to the capital improvement plan, should the Board recommend it.

Superintendent Madancy also gave an update on the Pupil Services Director position, for which the District is now seeking applicants. He mentioned too that the budget books for the upcoming fiscal year would likely be ready for the Board at its January 8 meeting.

The Board did vote to approve the Superintendent’s Report for 2024-25, which will be available via the school system website. Several members praised its contents and presentation and recommended parents and community members take the time to read it once it becomes available online.